John Daley – Merchant Navy, S.S. Holystone

Fireman and Trimmer John Daley – Merchant Navy, S.S. Holystone

Early Life

John Daley was born in 1921 in Swansea, the son of John Daley and Mary Sarah Daley. Although he does not appear in the 1921 Census—likely due to his birth occurring shortly before or after census day—he grew up within a large dockside family rooted in Swansea’s maritime and industrial communities.

Service in the Merchant Navy

By the time of the Second World War, John had entered service in the Merchant Navy, working as a Fireman and Trimmer. This was demanding and dangerous work, carried out deep within the ship’s engine and boiler rooms, where he would have been responsible for maintaining steam pressure and ensuring the smooth operation of the vessel’s machinery.

Merchant Seamen Deaths

According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths register, his home address at the time of his service was 26 Western Street, Swansea.

Sinking of the S.S. Holystone – 15^th February 1941

S.S. Holystone

The S.S. Holystone had dispersed from Convoy OB‑284 on 13^th February 1941 and was sailing unescorted in the North Atlantic. In the early hours of 15^th February, at 00.38 hours, the ship was attacked approximately 500 miles south‑southwest of Iceland by the German submarine U‑123.

The U‑boat had earlier attempted to attack another vessel from the same dispersed convoy, the Penolver, but after failing to hit that target, it turned its attention to the larger Holystone. Between 22.15 hours on 14 February and 00.12 hours on 15^th February, the submarine fired five torpedoes, all of which missed. A sixth torpedo, however, struck the Holystone on the port side aft, causing a catastrophic explosion.

The ship disappeared almost instantly in a massive detonation, likely triggered by the explosion of the magazine for the stern gun. The master, 35 crew members, and four gunners were all lost.

Among them was Fireman and Trimmer John Daley, whose duties would have placed him in the most hazardous part of the ship at the moment of impact.

John Daley
Tower Hill Memorial, London
credit - Benjidog Historical Research Resources:
The Merchant Navy Memorial

Commemoration

As with so many Merchant Navy men who died at sea with no known grave, John Daley is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. The memorial honours the thousands of Merchant Navy personnel who lost their lives during the war and have no resting place but the ocean.

His death forms part of the immense sacrifice made by the Merchant Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic, a campaign in which civilian seafarers faced relentless danger to keep Britain supplied